The Guardian and Cleantech Group recently announced the Global Cleantech 100. This is the first ever list of this scale highlighting the most promising private clean technology companies around the world. The Global Cleantech 100 recognizes companies at the forefront of cleantech innovation offering solutions to some of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. The final list represents the collective opinion of hundreds of leading experts from cleantech innovation and venture capital companies in EMEA, North America, India and China, combined with the specific input of an expert panel of 35, drawn from well-respected organizations such as Altira Group, Crossover Advisors, Deloitte, Emerald Technology Ventures, Google, Kleiner Perkins Caulfield & Byers, New York Stock Exchange, NGEN Partners, Nth Power, New Enterprise Associates, Sterling Communications, Tsing Capital and Vantage Point Venture Partners.
The panel decided on companies that are currently regarded as having the potential and likelihood to achieve high growth and high market impact. Their thoughts were then combined with insights from the Cleantech Network™, the de facto industry association of international clean technology investors, entrepreneurs, large corporations and other industry insiders. Some 3,500 companies were nominated/considered.
“The first ever Global Cleantech 100 shines a spotlight on which companies and which technology areas the global innovation community is currently most excited about, from a commercial standpoint,” said Richard Youngman, managing partner at Cleantech Group. “Although none of these firms are exactly household names, their innovations and the business acumen of their leaders and investors mean that they are likely to have high impact on our future. The Global Cleantech 100 companies, and many other worthy peer companies, stand to enable environmental sustainability and generate economic growth.”
Companies in energy sectors dominate the global list, with 74 of the final 100 focused on energy generation, infrastructure, energy efficiency, and storage. Diminishing oil and gas reserves, rising global demand for power, and fluctuating market prices have focused efforts on new, more efficient methods of creating and providing energy, and saving and storing it.
Ten of The Most Promising Solar Companies
Concentrix Solar
Freiburg, Germany
Product description: Concentrator photovoltaics
Enphase
California, US.
Product description: Solar microinverters
G24 Innovations
Cardiff, UK.
Product description: Thin film solar cells
GreenVolts
California, US.
Product description: Concentrating photovoltaics
Heliatek
Dresden, Germany.
Product description: Organic solar cell systems
Infinia Corporation
Washington, US.
Product description: Solar power generation
QuantaSol
Kingston, UK.
Product description: Solar cells
Solairedirect
Paris, France.
Product description: Installation and operation of residential and commercial solar power
Solarcentury
London UK.
Product description: Solar energy consultancy for buildings
SolarCity
California, US.
Product description: Solar power system design, financing, installation, monitoring
View the full list of the most promising solar companies.
Five of The Most Promising Biofuel Companies
Amyris Biotechnologies
California, US.
Product description: Biofuels
BioGasol
Ballerup, Denmark.
Product description: Biofuels
Chemrec
Stockholm, Sweden.
Product description: Biofuels
Cobalt Biofuels
California, US.
Product description: Biofuels
Coskata
Illinois, US.
Product description: Feedstock-flexible, syngas-to-ethanol platform
The Most Promising Wind Company
ChapDrive
Trondheim, Norway.
Product description: Wind power
The Most Promising Wave Company
Marine Current Turbines
Bristol, UK.
Product description: Tidal power turbines for energy generation
Most Promising Geothermal Company
AltaRock Energy
California, US.
Product description: Engineered geothermal systems
View the full list of the most promising biofuel, wave, wind, tidal, and geothermal companies
The Most Promising Energy Efficiency Companies
Albeo Technologies
Colorado, US.
Product description: LED lighting
ChromoGenics
Uppsala, Sweden.
Product description: Glass
AlertMe
Cambridge, UK.
Product description: Smart energy service
CPower
New York, US.
Product description: Energy management
View All of The Most Promising Energy Efficiency Companies
The Most Promising Energy Storage Company
Bloom Energy
California, US.
Product description: Fuel cells
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The Most Promising Recycling and Waste Management Company
MBA Polymers
California, US.
Product description: High value plastic recycling
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The Most Promising Transportation Company
Achates Power
California, US.
Product description: Clean diesel engines
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The Most Promising Water and Wastewater Treatment Company
Danfoss AquaZ
Nordborg, Denmark.
Product description: Water treatment
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